‘Marathon’ shines light on Gaza’s orphaned children and humanitarian crisis

Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, On a crisp morning in the southern city of Khan Younis, dozens of children gathered before a starting line, ready to run. The event, dubbed a “marathon,” was organized by the International Networking for Humanitarian (INH) Indonesia to highlight the plight of orphaned children in Gaza. As the whistle blew, the children sprinted forward, their small bodies moving quickly despite the rubble-strewn streets around them. For a fleeting moment, the destruction of the Gaza Strip seemed secondary to the joy of competition. Among the runners was 13-year-old Saif Hijazi, whose father, Rami Hijazi, was killed in an Israeli attack on their home in northern Gaza in January 2024. Saif, however, could not join the race. Since January 2025, when Israeli artillery struck near his family's tent, he has been paralyzed. Watching from his wheelchair, he saw his younger siblings, nine-year-old Sarah and ten-year-old Ammar, run past him, their faces lit with determination. “I miss my father every day. He used to take care of everything for us,” Saif said, his voice slow and steady. “I just want my life to get better.” His mother, Warda Hijazi, has taken on the role of sole caregiver, managing the medical needs of Saif, who also suffers from kidney paralysis, while ensuring food and shelter for her three children. The event drew attention to the broader crisis affecting children in Gaza. According to health officials, Israeli attacks since October 2023 have killed over 73,000 people in the territory. The United Nations children’s agency, UNICEF, reports that more than 58,000 children have lost one or both parents, and over one million children require protection and psychosocial support due to the war’s impact. Additionally, approximately 17,000 children are unaccompanied or separated from their families, contributing to one of the largest child protection crises in the region. Many of these children face repeated displacement, loss of income, and limited access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and protection. The situation has worsened as the humanitarian crisis deepens, with shortages pushing Gaza hospitals to the brink. Mohammed Yassin, project coordinator at INH Indonesia, emphasized the vulnerability of orphans during conflicts. “Orphans are always among the most affected groups in wars,” he said. “No matter how much effort we make as an organization, we cannot reach all of them.” He explained that the event was intended to raise awareness and encourage support for families caring for orphans, urging the global community to provide sponsorship that could ease their daily struggles. Families in Gaza that still have a primary provider are already struggling to afford basic necessities due to the loss of purchasing power and deteriorating living conditions. However, when a family loses its main provider, the burden becomes even heavier. “But when a family loses its main provider, the suffering becomes much greater in securing basic needs such as water and food,” Yassin added. For Warda Hijazi, the struggle is personal. She described her daily routine as a constant battle, balancing the care of Saif with the needs of her two younger children. “Everything has become my responsibility,” she said. “Their food, their medicine, raising them, and trying to make up for the love and care they lost.” As the marathon continued, the children ran past the ruins of homes and the remnants of destroyed infrastructure, their voices echoing over the sounds of distant explosions. In a place where hope often seems scarce, this event offered a rare opportunity for these children to feel the warmth of community and the possibility of a brighter future.